Harry Redknapp’s criticism of Adel Taarabt after Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool was sparked in part by the Moroccan international walking out of a pre-match team meeting when he was not named in the team or on the bench for the game.

The Queens Park Rangers manager is understood to have been furious before the game at Taarabt’s reaction to being left out. The club were not sure whether the 25-year-old stayed to watch the match. Earlier in the week he had been under consideration to start the game and Redknapp asked staff to organise a match at the training ground with the express purpose of testing Taarabt’s fitness. It was in that game he was judged to be well off the pace.

After the game, when asked whether Taarabt was injured, Redknapp said that the player was “not fit to play football, unfortunately. He played in a reserve game the other day and I could have run about more than he did.” Later he added that he could no longer “protect people, who don’t want to run about and train, and are about three stone overweight.”

One of the longest serving players at the club, Taarabt was on loan at Fulham and Milan last season but no permanent deal was forthcoming. It would look impossible for him to make a comeback now for the club and he is likely to leave in January, six months before his contract expires.

QPR v Liverpool: Player Ratings

QPR v Liverpool: Player Ratings

1/27
Alex McCarthy: 6

Did a solid job deputising for Rob Green – little he could do about any of Liverpool’s goals.

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2/27
Nedum Onuoha: 6

Hardly tested during the first half before going off with an injury.

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3/27
Steven Caulker: 5

Scored the match-winning goal… at the wrong end. Unfortunate, having worked hard to keep his side in touch as Liverpool threatened to run away with the game having gone 1-0 up.

4/27
Richard Dunne: 5

At fault for the Reds’ opener – didn’t adjust his feet quickly enough and turned Sterling’s effort into his own goal.

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5/27
Yun Suk-young: 6

Solid performance apart from losing concentration for Liverpool’s opener – defended capably and provided width down the left as QPR dominated the first half – should keep his starting place.

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6/27
Sandro: 7

Influential for 60 minutes before going off injured – his departure coincided with Liverpool taking control of the game.

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7/27
Mauricio Isla: 6

A real threat down the right in the first half, forced to move backwards by Onuoha’s withdrawal at half-time.

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8/27
Karl Henry: 7

Bullish performance in the centre of midfield. Bullied his more illustrious opponents at times.

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9/27
Leroy Fer: 6

Should have given his side the lead in the first half as he twice hit the bar with great chances – aside from that played well.

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10/27
Charlie Austin: 7

A threat to the Liverpool defence throughout, could have got himself on the score sheet, but did well to set up Vargas’ first.

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11/27
Bobby Zamora: 8

The captain’s physicality was a threat to the Liverpool defence right from the opening moment – laid on chances for Austin and Fer that should have been taken and was the outstanding player on the day.

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12/27
Matt Phillips: 6

Solid showing on the right flank after replacing Onuoha at half time – managed to put in some dangerous crosses.

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13/27
Armand Traore: 5

At fault for the Liverpool opener due to a lack of focus, almost redeemed himself with a headed effort towards the end.

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14/27
Eduardo Vargas: 8

A fine impact from the Chilean. His enthusiasm and movement saw him grab two goals in the final stages from the bench.

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15/27
Simon Mignolet: 5

Another shaky performance – made some good saves but looked extremely vulnerable at times.

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16/27
Glen Johnson: 6

Looked a little rusty on his return to the starting XI from injury – helped prevent a goal with some last ditch defending in the first half and crossed for Dunne’s own goal.

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17/27
Martin Skrtel: 5

The enforcer of Liverpool’s back four was completely bullied by Zamora and can count himself fortunate (or unfortunate) if he keeps his starting place against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

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18/27
Dejan Lovren: 5

Unable to handle the inspired Zamora until he went off – unconvincing.

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19/27
Luis Enrique: 5

Caused a lot of trouble by Isla in the first half – unable to impact the game going forward.

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20/27
Emre Can: 5

Making his first Premier League start, the German U21 international failed to stamp his authority on the game and was replaced by Joe Allen soon after the hour mark.

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21/27
Steven Gerrard: 5

Pushed into a more advanced role in the first half, he was anonymous until almost giving his side the lead just before the break – a bit better when dropping deeper in the second half.

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22/27
Raheem Sterling: 7

It wasn’t his finest game, but his decisive impact speaks for itself. Played a part in all of Liverpool’s goals and can now looking forward to taking on Real Madrid on Wednesday.

23/27
Jordan Henderson: 7

One of few Liverpool players who could be reasonably satisfied with his performance. His mixture of effort and quality helped to keep the Reds in the game as they struggled in the first half.

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24/27
Adam Lallana: 5

Gradually working his way back to full fitness, the England man struggled to get involved during the first half but his shot did lead to Balotelli’s big chance. Went off soon after the hour mark.

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25/27
Mario Balotelli: 4

He didn’t deserve to be on the winning side. Spurned two great opportunities and generally didn’t look after possession very well.

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26/27
Philippe Coutinho: 7

Struggled to make his mark on the game until stoppage time, when he gave Liverpool the lead and then played a sublime pass through to Sterling for his side’s winner.

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27/27
Joe Allen: 6

Quietly competent display after his introduction on the hour mark.

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The club’s midfielder Karl Henry admitted that the side had played like “Under-11s in twice conceding to Liverpool in the last four minutes of their injury-time defeat. Harry was not happy. He was shouting at us of course, we threw it away. It was naive from us, unprofessional. It can't happen.

“Someone said in the dressing room that it wouldn't have even happened in an Under-11s game. The goals we conceded were shocking. How were we unprofessional? Like with the first goal. They take a quick free kick and we were asleep. It was ridiculous.

“Then having them break on us for the second goal, running out of their box quicker than we did. You cross the ball and it drops in their box and it's not possible that they have four of five bodies in our box and we're not with them. That shouldn't be possible.

He continued: “You get to 2-2 late on in the game - you don't concede. But we dropped the free kick short rather than run it in the stand or making it sure it's long, in the corner, somewhere else.”